Immunotherapy in the management of melanoma: current status

Abstract

As the rate of melanoma continues to increase, so does the need for more effective and durable therapies. Despite considerable research, the management of advanced disease remains challenging. Numerous therapies are being investigated, many of which aim at upregulating the immune system’s innate ability to attack the tumor. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 antibodies are immune stimulants that act as negative regulators of the immune system by modifying an antitumor T-cell response. Ipilimumab, one such cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 antibody, and vemurafenib, a BRAF competitive inhibitor, were approved as first-line therapies in 2011 due to improved survival rates versus standard chemotherapy. Allovectin-7 is a lipid plasmid that encodes for major histone compatibility complex DNA sequences. It has led to increases in cytotoxic T-cell production, which subsequently attacks the tumor. OncoVEX, an oncolytic herpes virus, and PV-10, a chemoablative agent, have yielded promising results in metastatic lesions and have demonstrated a unique “bystander” phenomenon. In this paper we review the basics of melanoma from the pathophysiology, risk factors, signs, diagnostic approaches, and current status of immunologic management of melanoma.

Co-delivery of human cancer-testis antigens with adjuvant in protein nanoparticles induces higher cell-mediated immune responses

“…The target epitopes in this current study are HLA-A2 restricted peptide sequences from New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1) and melanoma antigen family A, 3 (MAGE-A3). 24 While other tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are often expressed at low levels in healthy tissue, expression of CTs is restricted only to cancer cells and the immune-privileged cells in the testis. Furthermore, CT antigens exist in a high proportion of different human tumors such as melanoma, bladder, lung, prostate, and breast cancers.…”